KAPASITAS INFILTRASI DAN KARAKTERISTIK TANAH PADA BERBAGAI OBJEK WISATA ALAM KALITALANG, KECAMATAN KEMALANG, KABUPATEN KLATEN

Wahyu Kusuma Wardani, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ambar Kusumandari, M.E.S., IPU.

2026 | Skripsi | KEHUTANAN

OWA Kalitalang merupakan kawasan wisata alam di lereng selatan Gunung Merapi yang mengalami peningkatan kunjungan wisatawan dalam beberapa tahun terakhir. Peningkatan aktivitas wisata berpotensi menimbulkan tekanan terhadap tanah melalui injakan pengunjung, pergerakan kendaraan, dan pembangunan fasilitas wisata, sehingga dapat mengubah karakteristik fisik tanah dan menurunkan kapasitas infiltrasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengestimasi kapasitas infiltrasi, mengidentifikasi karakteristik fisik tanah, mengkaji keterkaitan keduanya, dan merumuskan rekomendasi pengelolaan guna meminimalkan dampak aktivitas wisata di OWA Kalitalang.

Pengukuran infiltrasi dilakukan menggunakan double ring infiltrometer dan dimodelkan dengan persamaan Horton. Pengambilan data menggunakan Simple Random Sampling pada 11 titik lokasi wisata dan 1 titik kontrol dengan 3 kali pengulangan. Sampel tanah dianalisis untuk memperoleh data berat volume, berat jenis, porositas, kadar lengas, bahan organik, tekstur, dan struktur tanah. Hubungan antara kapasitas infiltrasi dan karakteristik tanah dianalisis menggunakan korelasi Spearman, sedangkan perbedaan antar lokasi dianalisis menggunakan uji Kruskal–Wallis dan One-Way ANOVA. Rekomendasi pengelolaan disusun berdasarkan tingkat penurunan kualitas tanah setiap lokasi.

Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kapasitas infiltrasi tertinggi pada lokasi kontrol (240,40 mm/jam) dan terendah pada Jalur Trekking (48,81 mm/jam). Porositas, kadar lengas, dan bahan organik berhubungan positif dengan kapasitas infiltrasi, sedangkan berat jenis dan berat volume berhubungan negatif. Aktivitas wisata menyebabkan pemadatan tanah yang ditandai dengan meningkatnya berat volume serta menurunnya porositas dan kapasitas infiltrasi. Kondisi tersebut dapat menurunkan kualitas fisik tanah dan mengganggu fungsi hidrologis kawasan. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan rekomendasi pengelolaan berupa pembuatan teras dan water bars, pemasangan grass block, revegetasi.

Kalitalang Nature Tourism Area on the southern slope of Mount Merapi has experienced a rise in visitor numbers in recent years. Increased tourism activity exerts pressure on the soil through visitor trampling, vehicle movement, and facility construction, potentially altering soil physical properties and reducing infiltration capacity. This study aimed to estimate soil infiltration capacity, identify soil physical characteristics, examine their relationship, and formulate management recommendations to minimize tourism impacts.

Infiltration was measured using a double ring infiltrometer and modelled with the Horton equation. Data were collected via Simple Random Sampling at 11 tourism sites and 1 control point with 3 replications. Soil samples were analysed for bulk density, particle density, porosity, moisture content, organic matter, texture, and structure. Relationships were analysed using Spearman correlation, while differences among locations were examined using Kruskal-Wallis and One-Way  ANOVA. Recommendations were formulated based on soil degradation level at each location.

The results showed the highest infiltration capacity at the control site (240.40 mm/hr) and the lowest at the Trekking Trail (48.81 mm/hr). Porosity, soil moisture content, and organic matter show a positive relationship with infiltration capacity, while bulk density and soil density demonstrate a negative relationship. Tourism activities induce soil compaction, characterized by increased bulk density and reduced porosity and infiltration capacity. These conditions can diminish soil physical quality and disrupt the hydrological function of the area. Therefore, management recommendations are necessary in the form of terrace construction and water bar installation, grass block placement, and revegetation.

Kata Kunci : Pemadatan tanah, trampling, regosol, double ring infiltrometer, rekomendasi pengelolaan, soil compaction, trampling, Regosol, double ring infiltrometer, management recommendation.